by R. L. Wolf
"Sir?" asked David.
"As you should know, I lost my deputies at Four Corners. I need four new resourceful deputies used to working with little or no supervision from their Gunslinger. I have no time to hold your hands." The Marshal stood, picked up the four badges and came around the desk. "You will complete your second and third phases under my guidance when we move this class to the next camp." The Marshal pinned the badges on the four confused young men, their faces showing the shock and confusion they felt. "With the loss of Tanner, we only have nineteen teams here now, but every class must have twenty." The Marshal picked a file up off his desk and handed it to David. "You will take the transport ship and bring the new Gunslinger student and her Merits here," said the Marshal. "Follow the script exactly, and ensure you give them tips to survive The Long Walk. I can't afford to lose a team to the desert."
"Sir... I... But…," stuttered David.
"Come over here," said the Marshal, and led his new deputies to a shelf against the wall of the cabin. Four gun belts rested on the shelf. "Rifles won't make any sense for the work I'll often have you doing. I want you wearing revolvers," said the Marshal, handing a gun belt to David.
"Sir?” asked David, tears forming in his eyes. "This is Tanner's gun, and there's blood on it."
"Yes there is," said the Marshal. "Spend your life redeeming the memory of your first Gunslinger by carrying his gun and bringing honor to it." The Marshal handed the remaining three belts to his other new deputies. "I gave one belt, my First Deputy’s gun, to Colt," said the Marshal. "These belonged to my other three deputies. Wear them with pride, they were good men."
The new deputies buckled the belts around their waist and knelt in front of the Marshal.
"I will serve you, my Gunslinger, for so long as I live," the new deputies said together.
"Enough of that," said the Marshal. "I'm not a young man impressed with oaths, only deeds. Now you have work to do, move out." The Marshal pushed his deputies to the door and out into the snow.
"What just happened?" asked Will, after the Marshal pulled the door shut and left his new deputies standing on the porch alone and in shock.
"We've been given a second chance," said Seth.
"Am I still First Merit?" asked David.
"He handed you a gun first, Tanner's gun," said Will. "Tradition says you're First Merit."
"Not First Merit," said Seth. "First Deputy."
David nodded and laid his hand on Tanner's gun. "Move out, men," said David. "Our Gunslinger gave us a mission."
"Umm... Guys?” asked Seth. "What team are we?"
"Does anyone know the Marshal’s name?" asked Will.
The young men laughed and headed toward the landing pad where the transport ship was. They didn't even know their Gunslingers name, but it didn't matter, they had a Gunslinger.
Three weeks later the transport ship set down on the landing pad at the Corvus Space Port. The ramp lowered and the team walked down to stand on their home planet for the first time in three years. The sun was bright and warm.
"It's summer here," said David, pulling his winter duster off.
"I wish we had time to visit our families," said Seth.
"Okay guys, we have to follow the procedure exactly," said David. "I'm on Senior Lead. Zach and Will, you're on Mentor in the passenger cabin, and Seth, you head back up to the flight deck, you're on Safety."
"Well that was a short visit," said Zach.
David headed to the small building to the side of the landing pad while the others took their positions. David opened the door and walked into the same waiting room he and the others had themselves once occupied while waiting for the transport ship.
"They look so young," thought David. "Was that us only three years ago?"
"Come with me," said David, following the script.
The girls grabbed their saddlebags and followed him across the landing pad and up the ramp into the ship. David hit the button to seal the ship for launch.
"We take off in two minutes," said David, pausing until Seth was four rungs from the bottom of the ladder. Two things could happen now, and the script had a scenario for each. One of the girls could ask a question, in which case David would answer up to three questions. Or the girls would remain silent, and he would head back up to the flight deck. The script had to be followed exactly.
The girls remained silent as Seth climbed down from the flight deck, and at the fourth rung, David walked up the aisle and passed Seth. David climbed back up to the flight deck, ignoring Zach and Will, who were sitting at the front of the cabin in the seats the Mentors always took. David checked the file with the script the Marshal had given them.
Seth returned a few minutes later. "Okay, all buckled in. Why do you think we do it like this?" asked Seth.
"I don't know," said David. "I guess after three-hundred years they know the best way to do it. I only know we have to follow this script exactly."
"What's next?" asked Seth.
"We stay on the flight deck until we reach the Gunslinger’s home, and then the Safety and Senior Lead leave the ship to get the Gunslinger Student. And, we are only allowed to say one thing while we are on the ground."
"You’re the one that says it, right?" asked Seth.
"Yes, and remember, you don't check the Gunslinger's seat harness," said David.
Thirty minutes later the ship set down in an open area next to a farmhouse. David and Seth climbed down from the flight deck and lowered the ramp. David counted thirty steps from the ramp and stopped. Thirty steps, no more, no less. That was the script. The Gunslinger Student came out of the house carrying her saddlebag. There were tears in her eyes.
Wait for it, thought David, it will happen when she reaches five steps from him.
The girl approached and stopped almost exactly five steps from David, and then she started to turn back toward her parents.
That was the cue. "Don't look back," said David. "You'll only make it harder on them. Mount up, we launch in two minutes."
David and Seth turned and headed back toward the ship with the new Gunslinger following them. David wanted to turn around and make sure she was following, but he had the script burned into his head. He had read it repeatedly during the journey back to Corvus. “Just trust she is following you,” he reminded himself.
David and Seth stopped at the ramp controls. The girl came up the ramp behind them and waited. David closed the ramp and without a word, he and Seth went up to the flight deck. David and Seth rushed to the security monitor to watch the passenger cabin—this was the most important part. The new Gunslinger Student was already in her seat fiddling with the harness trying to figure out how to fasten it. One of the Merits reached over and showed her how to fasten the harness.
"That's it," said David. "The Break and Bonding phase is complete. We did it!"
"What do you think happens when the script doesn't work?" asked Seth.
"Tanner happens," said David. "I been thinking about it. If you remember, Tanner turned around and ran back to hug his father."
"I wonder if the entire Academy is a script," said Seth.
"I wouldn't be surprised," replied David.
"Well, it's up to Will and Zach now to do their part and teach them how to survive the Long Walk."
Colt and his team were just finishing their scheduled time at the firing range when Duke's team arrived for their time on the range.
Austin pointed. "Ancestors preserve us."
Everyone turned to look. Five girls were staggering up the hill. The girl wearing a Gunslinger belt was in front helping one of the girls limp along. She had a blood soaked bandage on her head, and the other two girls were carrying the fifth girl. The coat of the girl being carried was ripped open, and a horrible gash had exposed her ribs. They had tried to bandage the girl, but the wound ran down her entire side. The other girls had bits of blood soaked bandages tied to their arms and legs, and they all appeared frostbitten and near death
Garth st
arted toward them, but Duke grabbed and held him.
"You can’t touch them. If you touch them they fail, and you know what happens then," said Duke. "They have to make it to the hospital on their own."
Colt ran out in front of the new Gunslinger student and walked backward, motioning for her to keep walking.
"This way, you’re almost there!" shouted Colt. "There's the hospital. It’s right there. You can make it."
The rest of Colt and Duke's teams walked along next to the girls shouting encouragement.
David and his Team stood next to the Marshal at the hospital cabin, watching the half-dead Gunslinger team come in from the Long Walk.
"Sir, did we mess up?" asked David.
"I see the Cabin Mentors gave them an extra rifle before you dropped them off on the Long Walk, well done," said the Marshal. "That was within the rules and probably saved their lives, but you can't control when wolves or wild cats attack. The harder the ordeal the Gunslinger team endures on the Long Walk, the stronger their bond will be. I think this group will be a strong team."
"Yes, Sir," said David. "Sir, we were wondering what your name is, so we know what team we are."
"Marshall."
"Come on, Sir," said David. "Tell us."
"Marshall," the Gunslinger repeated.
"Okay, Sir," said David. "I understand, we have to earn the right to know your name."
The Marshal grinned and chuckled to himself, then went to check with the doctor to make sure that Gunslinger Team Rebecca would be okay.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Fatal
Students mingled in the early morning light and stomped their feet to warm up, keeping a close eye on the Marshal’s door. The door swung open and students rushed to their places, expecting the usual comfortable routine. However, this time was different. David, the Marshal's First Deputy, came out the door alone and walked down the steps to the field.
He faced the waiting students and shouted: “Fall-in!”
The older students immediately understood what was happening and came to a position of attention. Colt looked at Cora and shrugged.
“This is how we used to do it,” whispered Cora. “But the Marshal hasn’t had deputies since you arrived, so everything has been kind of laid-back.”
“I thought the cook, Deputy Hargrath, was the First Deputy,” whispered Colt.
“No, he’s the Senior Deputy, there’s a difference,” whispered Cora.
“Report,” shouted David.
“Gunslinger Team Roger, all present,” shouted Roger.
“Gunslinger Team Owen, one in the hospital with the flu,” shouted Owen.
“Gunslinger Team Rex, all present,” shouted Rex.
The teams continued the roll-call until it was Colts turn. Colt saluted the way he saw the others did it and shouted: “All present.”
David turned around and faced the Marshal’s cabin. Zach and Will came out of the Marshal’s cabin next, each carrying an armful of poles with flags on them.
David turned his head and shouted: “First’s, retrieve your banners.”
Ella grabbed Toran’s arm and pulled him with her. They ran up to the porch with the other First Merits, found the correct banners, and ran back to their teams.
“What’s this supposed to mean?” asked Colt.
Toran unrolled the banner on the pole, an embroidered image of a Wolf head was centered on the cloth, with the words Team Cyness under it.
“Oh, I get it,” said Austin. “This is where all the banners hanging in our cabin came from. The Banners are the history of the teams before us.”
“I bet our banner goes up there after we leave,” said Wes.
The Marshal came out of his office, followed by Seth, carrying a pole with a banner three times larger than the team banners. The Marshal stopped at his usual place and looked down at David.
“Report,” shouted the Marshal.
“Gunslinger Academy assembled and ready,” shouted David, rendering a smart salute.
The Marshal returned the salute.
"All of you are aware we have a new Gunslinger team in camp," shouted the Marshal.
"How are they doing?" asked Rex.
"I spoke to Gunslinger Rebecca," said the Marshal. "They were attacked by a mountain lion. I want everyone to be on your toes. The beast is still out there somewhere, but her team is recovering and will be joining classes in several days."
"Sir, I heard one of them is from Carina," shouted Ella. Toran heard an edge in her voice you would have had to be brain dead to miss.
"Yes," said the Marshal. "One of the new Merits is from Carina." The Marshal stretched, preparing for the run. "And one other bit of news. Duke, your father will be arriving later this morning. Alright, move out."
The Marshal stepped off the porch and started the grueling six-mile run, with David, Will, and Zach, behind him. Seth, carrying the Marshal’s banner, took a position next to him. The Gunslinger teams peeled off one by one and fell into formation behind them. Duke’s turn came to peel off and follow, but he stood, not moving.
"Duke, what are you doing? It's our turn to go," said Gideon.
Rex watched Duke. His team was supposed to follow Duke, but the large Daemi remained frozen in place. Rex made a decision, yelled for his team to follow, and chased after the other teams.
"Duke?" Gideon stepped in front of his Gunslinger. "Are you okay?"
Duke stared through Gideon for a long moment before answering. “My sin has caught up with me. The Dragon punishes me.”
Gideon shook his head slowly. “I doubt that. You are the most devout worshiper of the Dragon I know. I think you’re the last person the Dragon would punish.”
“Come, we must catch up with the others.”
Gideon flicked his tail at the team as Duke sprinted away to catch up with the class formation. The Daemi language was spoken primarily with body language. The deep guttural sounds that comprised their limited verbal language only accented their body language. A Daemi could hold an entire conversation without uttering a single word. The others swayed their tails to the side with a subtle quiver of the heavy armored plate at the tip. They were also concerned at Duke’s odd behavior over the news of his father’s planned arrival. Gideon followed after Duke and watched him closely.
Duke’s body language always had an unusual staccato accent Gideon found difficult to follow and rarely made sense. Duke usually spoke in odd riddles nobody understood, but now the dominant was giving off mixed signals that were almost unintelligible. The Daemi tail was held low and parallel to the ground when running, the tip occasionally touching the ground then rising to signal any particular obstacles ahead. The typical conversation when running was usually something like: “Warning, rock in path… or… exposed root, step high… or… I smell a predator.” But today, if Gideon were to translate exactly, Duke was saying something so odd he arched his tail, and flicked it once in an upward motion, asking Cole behind him what Duke had just said.
Gideon looked back over his shoulder. Cole just shrugged, circled his tail once, and joined two fingers to his thumb in a sideways motion. “I don’t know. I think he just said there is a flaming comet of cat vomit ahead.”
“Has he ever mentioned his Hatching Father to you?” asked Gideon.
Cole shook his head: “I asked him once, he told me the Dragon eats bark mice.”
Aaron, running behind Cole, lifted his tail and gestured: “Yesterday at breakfast, you guys had already left for class, he told me the orange juice required the spoon of power.”
“What did you do?” asked Gideon, flicking his tail twice.
“I dropped my spoon in his orange juice glass, he looked at me like I was nuts, and told me Zebra legs eat duck feathers.”
Zane, the smallest of the team swayed his tail: “You know Duke, he always says weird things.”
Gideon dropped his tail and looked back at Duke. For all Duke’s fancy verbal language, he often spoke in Daemi like a hatchling still egg-w
et. Gideon sighed and ran, following Duke. He would have to speak with Duke about it. The odd cryptic language was beginning to be a problem.
Despite the long run, the students were nearly frozen by the time the Marshal led the way back to the camp. The Marshal dismissed them, and everyone rushed to the dining cabin for breakfast. Duke sat quietly at his team table, seemingly poised and confident as usual.
Gideon flicked his tale at Duke. "I’m your First, talk to me," said Gideon.
"The Dragon comes for me, bear patience but a moment longer," replied Duke, and flicked his tail to emphasize his words: “The Dragon has apricot fruit on my head.”
Gideon looked to Cole, but only got a confused shrug. Conversation in the dining cabin hushed abruptly as First Deputy David and the Marshal’s new team entered the room. This was the first time they had appeared in a ‘social’ setting since the night of Tanner finished the Long Walk.
The new deputies walked to their table and stared at the empty table. The sign identifying the team the table belonged to now read, Team Rebecca.
"Over here boys," called one of the teachers. "You're at the staff table now."
David and his team walked toward the staff table where the teachers ate. Duke stood and started clapping, and the rest of the class followed his example. Everyone always followed Duke. He had that bearing about him that made people want to follow him.
Duke sat back down and tried to eat his breakfast, but all he could manage was to push the food around his plate. He finally slammed his fork down and stood, banging his tail on the floor just enough to be heard above the din of conversation.
"Can I have everyone's attention," said Duke.
Duke waited for everyone to quiet down, his team watching on, concerned. They already guessed it would have something to do with his father visiting.
"I am not true in the eyes of the Dragon, for I have lied," said Duke. "My father is a deputy, and I am a filth..."
Rex jumped up, put the back of his hand to his forehead, and staggered around theatrically. "Oh no. Duke lied, the world is going to end."